Carton With Reinforcing Features

ABSTRACT

A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton has a plurality of panels for at least partially forming an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes at least one top panel comprising a handle portion and a retention portion. The handle portion is foldably connected to the retention portion and at least partially forms a handle of the carton. The retention portion has openings for respectively receiving the necks of the containers when the containers are in the carton. The retention portion has at least one reinforcing flap for reinforcing and stabilizing the carton when the handle is activated.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/230,266, filed on Jun. 1, 2015.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/230,266, which was filed on Jun. 1, 2015, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to carriers or cartons for holding containers.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a plurality of panels for at least partially forming an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one top panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel. The at least one top panel comprising a handle portion and a retention portion. The handle portion is foldably connected to the retention portion, and the retention portion has at least one opening for receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers. A handle is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position to facilitate grasping and carrying the carton. A reinforcing structure extends between at least two containers. The reinforcing structure comprises at least one reinforcing flap comprising at least a portion of the retention portion. The reinforcing structure stabilizing the carton when the handle is positioned from the lowered position to the raised position.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of containers. The blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, and at least one top panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel. The at least one top panel comprising a handle portion and a retention portion. The handle portion is foldably connected to the retention portion, and the retention portion has at least one opening for receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers in the carton formed from the blank. Handle features are for forming a handle that is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position to facilitate grasping and carrying the carton formed from the blank. Reinforcing features are for forming a reinforcing structure extending between at least two containers in the carton formed from the blank. The reinforcing features comprise at least one reinforcing flap comprising at least a portion of the retention portion. The reinforcing structure stabilizing the carton formed from the blank when the handle is positioned from the lowered position to the raised position.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers. The method comprising obtaining a blank having a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, and at least one top panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel. The at least one top panel comprising a handle portion and a retention portion. The handle portion is foldably connected to the retention portion, and the retention portion has at least one opening for receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers. The blank comprises handle features comprising the handle portion for forming a handle that is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position to facilitate grasping and carrying the carton formed from the blank and reinforcing features for forming a reinforcing structure. The reinforcing features comprise at least one reinforcing flap comprising at least a portion of the retention portion. The method comprises positioning the blank relative to a plurality of containers so that the at least one container of the plurality of containers is received in the at least one opening, forming the handle from the handle features, and forming the reinforcement structure by positioning the at least one reinforcing flap. The reinforcement structure extending between at least two containers in the carton and stabilizing the carton.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of activating a handle and reinforcing the carton as shown and/or described herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the above-discussed aspects be provided both individually and in various combinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exterior side of a blank used to form a package, carrier, or carton according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one side of the blank of FIG. 1 partially assembled into the carton.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the blank of FIG. 1 partially assembled into the carton.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled carton with containers loaded into the carton according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the assembled and loaded carton according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled and loaded carton according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembled and loaded carton according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled and loaded carton according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the assembled and loaded carton according to one embodiment.

Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, for holding, carrying, and displaying containers such as bottles, jars, cans, etc. The containers can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The containers can be made from materials suitable in composition for packaging the particular food or beverage item, and the materials include, but are not limited to, glass; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; or any combination thereof.

Carriers or cartons according to the present disclosure can accommodate containers of numerous different shapes. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes beverage containers (e.g., glass bottles or plastic containers) at least partially disposed within the carrier or carton embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper”, “top”, “front”, and “back” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers or cartons.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exterior side 1 of a blank 3 used to form a package or basket-style carrier or carton 5 (FIG. 4-9), in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the carton 5 is sized to contain six containers C, three containers being contained in a front portion 7 of the carton 5 and three containers being contained in a back portion 9 of the carton. However, the carton 5 may be sized and shaped to hold more or less than six containers without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the containers C are beverage bottles with necks N covered by a foil cover F, or the like, that extends upwardly to just below the caps of the containers, but the containers could be any other suitable type and size of container without departing from the disclosure. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the carton 5 includes a handle 8 for grasping the carton 5 and reinforcing features including a reinforcing structure 101 extending between the front portion 7 and the back portion 9 that reinforce the carton 5 when the carton 5 is lifted at the handle 8. The handle 8 is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position to facilitate grasping and carrying the carton 5 and the reinforcing structure stabilizes and reinforces the carton when the handle is positioned from the lowered position to the raised position.

The blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. The blank 3 has a first portion 11 for forming the front portion 7 of the carton 5, and a second portion 13 for forming the back portion 9 of the carton 5. A first bottom panel 15 is foldably connected by a lateral fold line 16 or multiple fold lines to the first portion 11, and a second bottom panel 17 is foldably connected by a lateral fold line 18, or multiple fold lines, to the second portion 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 11 and second portion 13 are for being folded about a lateral centerline CL when the blank 3 is formed into the carton 5. As discussed in more detail below, the blank 3 can be formed into the carton 5 by folding the blank 3 about the centerline CL so that the first portion 11 and the second portion 13 are overlapped.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 11 is generally a mirror image of the second portion 13. Accordingly, like or similar features of the first portion 11 and the second portion 13 are given like or similar reference numbers with the features of the first portion given the suffix “a”, and the features of the second portion 13 given the suffix “b”. Also, a discussion of one of two similar features is generally applicable to the other of the similar features.

The first portion 11 has a front panel 14 a foldably connected to the bottom panel 15 at respective fold lines 16 and a top panel 21 a foldably connected to the front panel 14 a at a lateral fold line 26 a. The top panel 21 a includes a retention portion 23 a that is foldably connected to a handle portion 25 a at a lateral fold line 24 a. The retention portion 23 a is foldably connected to the front panel 14 a at the lateral fold line 26 a and has three openings 27 a, 29 a, 31 a. The bottom portion of the front panel 14 a includes corresponding openings 33 a, 35 a, 37 a, aligned with the corresponding openings 27 a, 29 a, 31 a in the retention portion 23 a.

The features for forming the handle 8 include two handle flaps 45 a, 47 a in the handle portion 25 a that are foldably connected to the handle portion and partially obstruct handle openings 46 a, 48 a, in the handle portion. The handle portion 25 a of the first portion 11 is foldably connected to the handle portion 25 b of the second portion 13 at a lateral fold line 55. In one embodiment, the lateral fold line 55 is located on the centerline CL of the blank 3 and extends laterally across the blank. In one embodiment, the handle portion 25 a includes a lateral fold line 53 a extending from respective handle openings 46 a, 46 b. The handle could be formed by other features of the blank 3 without departing from the disclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first bottom panel 15 includes primary female locking features 49 and secondary female locking features 51. The second bottom panel 17 includes primary male locking features 63 configured for mating with the primary female locking features 49, and secondary male locking features 65 configured for mating with the secondary female locking features 67. The bottom panels 15, 17 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured such as to be free of any locking features and could comprise panels that overlap to form a bottom of the carton, or could be otherwise configured.

As shown in FIG. 1, the retention portion 23 a includes a reinforcing flap 73 a (broadly “first reinforcing flap”) foldably connected to the front panel 14 a by portions of the fold line 26 a extending from the central opening 29 a. The reinforcing flap 73 a is defined by a first and second tear line 75 a, 77 a respectively extending from the fold line 26 a, and a lateral cut 79 a extending between the ends of the tear lines 75 a, 77 a. In one embodiment, the lateral cut 79 a has a central curved portion 81 a. As shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the fold line 24 a extends across the reinforcing flap 73 a and defines a distal portion 90 of the reinforcing flap 73 a that includes an edge defined by the central curved portion 81 a. The back portion 13 of the blank 3 similarly has a second top panel 21 b with reinforcing flap 73 b (broadly “second reinforcement flap”) that is similarly shaped as reinforcing flap 73 a and formed by respective tear lines 75 b, 77 b, and lateral cut 79 b with central curved portion 81 b. As shown in FIG. 1, the fold line 24 b connecting the retention portion 23 b to the handle portion 25 b of the back portion 13 of the blank 3 is interrupted by the reinforcing flap 73 b. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing flap 73 b does not include a portion of the fold line 24 b extending across the tear lines 75 b, 77 b. In one embodiment, the reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b surround the respective central openings 29 a, 29 b and are respectively foldably connected to the front panel 14 a and back panel 14 b at respective fold lines 26 a, 26 b. The reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

In one exemplary method of erection of the carton 5, the blank 3 is folded about fold line 55 to bring the interior surfaces of the handle portions 25 a, 25 b and the retention portions 23 a, 23 b of the top panels 21 a, 21 b into face-to-face contact. The handle portions 25 a, 25 b are adhesively attached by glue 81. The reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b are overlapped and their interior surfaces brought into face-to-face contact with the distal portion 90 of the reinforcing flap 73 a being adhered to a portion of the reinforcing flap 73 b by glue 83. As shown in FIG. 3, the overlapped and adhered handle portions 25 a, 25 b are downwardly folded about overlapped fold lines 24 a, 24 b so that the handle portion 25 a is brought into face-to-face contact with the retention portion 23 a and the handle portion 25 b overlapping the handle portion 25 a. As the handle portions 25 a, 25 b are downwardly folded to the position of FIG. 3, the distal portion 90 of the reinforcing flap 73 a is downwardly folded about the fold line 24 a that extends across the reinforcing flap 73 a to form a z-fold in the reinforcing flap that results in the distal portion 90 overlapping the remaining portion of the reinforcing flap 73 a and the edge of the distal portion 90 formed by the cut 81 a being adjacent the opening 29 a. The distal portion 90 a that has already been adhesively secured to the reinforcing flap 73 b can be adhered to the remaining portion of the reinforcing flap 73 a to secure the two reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b together with the reinforcing flap 73 b overlapping the reinforcing flap 73 a that has the z-fold with the distal portion 90 a folded over the remaining portion of the reinforcing flap 73 a. The overlapped and secured reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 form the reinforcing structure 101 of the carton 5. Next, the blank 3 can be placed on a group of containers C, such that the necks N of the containers C extend through a respective opening 27 a, 27 b, 29 a, 29 b, 31 a, 31 b in the respective retention portion 23 a, 23 b. The front panel 14 a and back panel 14 b can be downwardly folded relative to the retention portions 23 a, 23 b to form the front portion 7 and back portion 9 of the carton 5. The bottom panels 15, 17 can be overlapped and interlocked by respective locking features to form the bottom of the carton. Bottom portions of the containers C can extend in the respective openings 33 a, 33 b, 35 a, 35 b, 37 a, 37 b in the front and back panels 14 a, 14 b.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6, in the loaded and assembled carton, the retention portions 23 a, 23 b of the top panels 21 a, 21 b extend generally perpendicular to the front panel 14 a and back panel 14 b in the initial configuration of the carton 5. This initial configuration of the carton 5 represents the configuration of the carton 5 that can be shipped to a retail or point of sale location (e.g., liquor store or other type of retail establishment) and corresponds to the handle 8 being positioned in the lowered positioned. The carton 5 of FIGS. 4-6 can be grasped and carried by the consumer via the handle 8 formed in the top panels 21 a, 21 b. As shown in FIGS. 7-9, when the handle 8 is grasped from the lowered position of FIG. 4 and activated or raised to the raised position of FIGS. 7-9, the handle panels 25 a, 25 b are extended upwardly such that the handle openings 46 a, 46 b, 48 a, 48 b are positioned above the containers C. Also, when the handle 8 is activated and positioned to the raised position, the reinforcing structure 101 including the overlapped reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b separate from respective retention portions 23 a, 23 b and handle portions 25 a, 25 b along tear lines 75 a, 75 b, 77 a, 77 b so that the overlapped reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b remain generally perpendicular to the front panel 14 a, and back panel 14 b. The reinforcing structure 101 including the overlapped reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b extends between the two middle containers C to reinforce the carton when the handle is activated. When the handle is activated, the remaining portions of the retention portions 23 a, 23 b (minus the overlapped reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b) slope upwardly from the front and back panels 14 a, 14 b to the handle portions 25 a, 25 b. In one embodiment, a portion of the handle portions 25 a, 25 b are free from attachment to each other and a top edge margin of the handle portions 25 a, 25 b are adhesively attached to each other. The handles 8 could be activated prior to shipping to a retail or point of sale location without departing from the disclosure. The handles 8 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. For example, the handle 8 could have reinforcing features other than, or in addition to, the overlapped reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b without departing from the disclosure.

In one embodiment, when the blank is initially folded at fold line 55, the two reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b are brought into face-to-face contact. Next, the handle portions 25 a, 25 b are downwardly folded at overlapped fold lines 24 a, 24 b to the position similar to the view shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the blank 3 is folded to the position shown in FIG. 3, the distal portion 90 of the reinforcing flap 73 a is folded downward and positioned in face-to-face contact with the remaining portion of the reinforcing flap 73 a to form a z-fold arrangement of the bottom reinforcing flap 73 a that is overlapped by the top reinforcing flap 73 b. The top reinforcing flap 73 b extends between the two adjacent middle containers (the containers in openings 29 a, 29 b), while the bottom reinforcing flap 73 a is folded about the portion of the fold line 24 a that extends across the reinforcing flap 73 a and positioned in a z-fold arrangement so that the bottom reinforcing flap 73 a is folded over itself so that the edge of the flap formed by cut 81 a is adjacent the container C in the opening 29 a. Both the edges formed by respective curved cuts 81 a, 81 b overlap a portion of an edge of the opening 29 a. In this way, the overlapped reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b comprise the reinforcing structure 101 extending between the two middle containers C that comprises the thickness of three layers of material (the top reinforcing flap 73 b being the top layer and the distal portion 90 of the reinforcing flap 73 a that is folded over the remaining portion of the reinforcing flap 73 a being the bottom two layers) to increase the structural support and strength of the carton 5 when the handle 8 is activated. In one embodiment, the reinforcing structure 101 extends between the middle container C in the front portion 7 of the carton 5 and the middle container C in the back portion 9 of the carton 5 and the reinforcing structure 101 extends between the front panel 14 a and the back panel 14 b of the carton 5. The reinforcing structure 101 could be otherwise positioned to extend between different containers C without departing from the disclosure. The reinforcing structure 101 stabilizes the carton 5 by preventing or limiting flexing of the front portion 7 and back portion 9 of the carton 5 when the handle 8 is used to lift and carry the carton 5. The reinforcing structures 101 provides a bracing structural member that extends between the front panel 14 a and back panel 14 b to stabilize, reinforce, and increase the rigidity of the carton 5. Further, the reinforcing structure 101 could have other features or be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. The carton 5 could have other strengthening and reinforcing features without departing from the disclosure. The reinforcing flaps 73 a, 73 b also may be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

The exemplary carton embodiment discussed above accommodates six containers arranged in two rows, but the present disclosure is not limited to these numbers. As one example, additional containers may be accommodated by increasing the size of the blank 3 (e.g., in the lateral direction L2 in FIG. 1) and forming additional container-receiving spaces therein. Also, the blank 3 could have less than six container-receiving spaces without departing from the disclosure.

In general, the blank 3 may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank 3 can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above. The blank 3 can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blank 3 may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blank 3 may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank 3. The blank 3 can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.

As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.

The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.

The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A carton for holding a plurality of containers, the carton comprising: a plurality of panels for at least partially forming an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one top panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the at least one top panel comprising a handle portion and a retention portion, the handle portion is foldably connected to the retention portion, and the retention portion has at least one opening for receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers; a handle that is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position to facilitate grasping and carrying the carton; and a reinforcing structure extending between at least two containers, the reinforcing structure comprises at least one reinforcing flap comprising at least a portion of the retention portion, the reinforcing structure stabilizing the carton when the handle is positioned from the lowered position to the raised position.
 2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing flap is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel.
 3. The carton of claim 1, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel, the at least one reinforcing flap comprises a first reinforcing flap in the first top panel and second reinforcing flap in the second top panel.
 4. The carton of claim 3, wherein the reinforcing structure extends between a first container in a front portion of the carton and a second container in the back portion of the carton.
 5. The carton of claim 4, wherein the reinforcing structure extends between the front panel and the back panel.
 6. The carton of claim 3, wherein the first reinforcing flap is foldably connected to the front panel and the second reinforcing flap is foldably connected to the back panel.
 7. The carton of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the first reinforcing flap is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the second reinforcement flap.
 8. The carton of claim 7, wherein a distal portion of the first reinforcing flap is folded in to face-to-face contact with an adjacent portion of the first reinforcing flap to form a z-fold.
 9. The carton of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing structure has a thickness that comprises three layers of material adjacent one of the at least two containers.
 10. The carton of claim 8, wherein the first reinforcing flap and the second reinforcing flap are adhered together by adhesive.
 11. The carton of claim 10, wherein the distal portion of the first reinforcing flap is adhered to the adjacent portion of the first reinforcing flap by adhesive.
 12. The carton of claim 8, wherein the first reinforcing flap and the second reinforcing flap have overlapping edges adjacent an opening of the retaining portion of the first top panel.
 13. The carton of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure is generally perpendicular to the front panel and the back panel when the handle is positioned in the raised position.
 14. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a first bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel; and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel, wherein the first bottom panel comprises locking features for mating with locking features of the second bottom panel.
 15. A blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising: a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, and at least one top panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the at least one top panel comprising a handle portion and a retention portion, the handle portion is foldably connected to the retention portion, and the retention portion has at least one opening for receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers in the carton formed from the blank; handle features for forming a handle that is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position to facilitate grasping and carrying the carton formed from the blank; and reinforcing features for forming a reinforcing structure extending between at least two containers in the carton formed from the blank, the reinforcing features comprise at least one reinforcing flap comprising at least a portion of the retention portion, the reinforcing structure stabilizing the carton formed from the blank when the handle is positioned from the lowered position to the raised position.
 16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the at least one reinforcing flap is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel.
 17. The blank of claim 15, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel, the at least one reinforcing flap comprises a first reinforcing flap in the first top panel and second reinforcing flap in the second top panel.
 18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the first reinforcing flap is foldably connected to the front panel and the second reinforcing flap is foldably connected to the back panel.
 19. The blank of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the first reinforcing flap is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the second reinforcement flap.
 20. The blank of claim 19, wherein a distal portion of the first reinforcing flap is folded in to face-to-face contact with an adjacent portion of the first reinforcing flap to form a z-fold.
 21. The blank of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing structure has a thickness that comprises three layers of material.
 22. The blank of claim 20, wherein the first reinforcing flap and the second reinforcing flap are adhered together by adhesive.
 23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the distal portion of the first reinforcing flap is adhered to the adjacent portion of the first reinforcing flap by adhesive.
 24. The blank of claim 20, wherein the first reinforcing flap and the second reinforcing flap have overlapping edges adjacent an opening of the retaining portion of the first top panel.
 25. The blank of claim 15, further comprising a first bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel; and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel, wherein the first bottom panel comprises locking features for mating with locking features of the second bottom panel.
 26. A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers, the method comprising: obtaining a blank having a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, and at least one top panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the at least one top panel comprising a handle portion and a retention portion, the handle portion is foldably connected to the retention portion, and the retention portion has at least one opening for receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the blank comprises handle features comprising the handle portion for forming a handle that is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position to facilitate grasping and carrying the carton formed from the blank and reinforcing features for forming a reinforcing structure, the reinforcing features comprise at least one reinforcing flap comprising at least a portion of the retention portion; positioning the blank relative to a plurality of containers so that the at least one container of the plurality of containers is received in the at least one opening; forming the handle from the handle features; forming the reinforcement structure by positioning the at least one reinforcing flap, the reinforcing structure extending between at least two containers in the carton and stabilizing the carton.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising activating the handle by grasping the handle to raise the handle from the lowered position to the raised position.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the reinforcing structure is generally perpendicular to the front panel and the back panel when the handle is activated.
 29. The method of claim 27, wherein the reinforcing structure is generally perpendicular to the front panel and the back panel in the lowered position of the handle and the raised position of the handle.
 30. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one reinforcing flap is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel.
 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel, the at least one reinforcing flap comprises a first reinforcing flap in the first top panel and second reinforcing flap in the second top panel.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the forming the handle comprises positioning the handle portion of the first top panel and the handle portion of the second top panel in face-to-face contact.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the positioning the containers comprises positioning a first row of containers in a front portion of the carton and positioning a second row of containers in a back portion of the carton, the reinforcing structure extends between a first container in a front portion of the carton and a second container in the back portion of the carton.
 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the first reinforcing flap is foldably connected to the front panel and the second reinforcing flap is foldably connected to the back panel, and the forming the reinforcement structure comprises positioning at least a portion of the first reinforcing flap in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the second reinforcement flap.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the forming the reinforcement structure comprises forming a z-fold by folding a distal portion of the first reinforcing flap in to face-to-face contact with an adjacent portion of the first reinforcing flap.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing structure comprises three layers of material adjacent one of the at least two containers.
 37. The method of claim 35, wherein the forming the reinforcement structures comprises adhering the first reinforcing flap and the second reinforcing with adhesive.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the distal portion of the first reinforcing flap is adhered to the adjacent portion of the first reinforcing flap by adhesive.
 39. The method of claim 35, wherein the forming the reinforcement structure comprises overlapping edges of the first reinforcing flap and the second reinforcing flap have overlapping edges and positioning the edges adjacent an opening of the retaining portion of the first top panel.
 40. The method of claim 26, wherein the blank further comprises a first bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel, the method further comprises forming a bottom of the carton by at least partially overlapping the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first bottom panel comprises first locking features and the second bottom panel comprises second locking features, the method further comprises mating the first locking features and the second locking features. 